MEET THE ARTISTS

Looking at the female artist named Rebecca Cummins, she received her BFA at the University of Northern Iowa in 1979, along with an MA at the University of New Mexico 1982, and finally the University of Technology in Sydney Australia to get her Ph.D. in 2003. One of her main themes in her sculptures she explores the different possibilities that come with light and the natural components that come along with it. One can see this is a major key in The Lunar Drift sculpture here at Western looking at the different lighting differences represented in the moon and the sky, along with their differences in contrast with various times of day. She has her pieces served in many places around the World including China, Spain, Finland, Sydney, Ireland. Along with her art here in the states in Seattle, here at Western, San Francisco, and also in Oregon. She taught in Australia and still teaches at the University of Washington exploring media, how it has affected us through history, along with contemporary artists (Rebecca Cummins).

Cummins enjoys partnering and collaborating in her artwork with other artists, scientists, and community partners. She considers the scientific features of her surroundings in her creations; her vision is to “understand the concept of time and physic compel the viewer to engage in her vision.”She challenges her viewers to consider the aspects of light that you wouldn’t usually consider or even realize what’s around us in our atmosphere. She works with both photography and sculptural aspects of space partnered with how Earth and environments around us coincide (art+science).

Partnered with Cummins, Paul DeMarinis incorporated his art background into the Lunar Drift. Throughout most of the world, Paul had used installations, performances, and public artworks to display his creative mind (Paul DeMarinis). Beyond art pieces, DeMarinis has created music for a variety of people and universities. In his artist statement, he says, “I mean to pose questions about the world we have created, to ask how material devices weave their way into our personal relationships, our understanding of the physical universe and our origins, as well as our notions of possible futures,”(Paul DeMarinis). One can tie this to his influence on the Lunar Drift creation. The way it makes one aware of their place in the universe at the moment. Also, the placing of the sculpture, in a university lounge where many students are studying on some material device, leads the question of how these objects weave into our lives.

ABOUT THE SCULPTURE

In the afternoon on October 11th, 2014 ‘Lunar Drift’ was dedicated in Miller Hall at Western Washington University. A partnership between WWU and the Washington State Arts Commission allowed the piece to have funding to be created. The piece is comprised of three different sculptures: one displaying the constant weather change of the sky above, another displaying the moon each night, and finally, “two slow-time kinetic sculptures”(Lunar Drift Inauguration)that continue to move as we make progress in space. To make this sculpture happen two artists came together with different backgrounds, but the same vision. Rebecca Cummins currently teaches at the University of Washington and has produced many projects. Her primary focus is to provoke curiosity in natural phenomena through sculpture and production pieces. Her partner on this piece, Paul DeMarinis, teaches at Stanford University. DeMarinis uses time and memory in his work. Most often using electronic means. Together they molded their inspirations to create Lunar Drift to influence a “heightened awareness”(Lunar Drift Inauguration) of the viewer’s spatial place in the universe.

The past number of years have been incredible for astronomical discoveries and expeditions, which I’m sure to have had an impact on the creation of Lunar Drift. Of course, the expedition to Mars has been highly publicized, but there have been countless others. For example, and more related to Lunar Drift, in 2009, the Indian Space Research Organisation announced in a 2009 issue of SCIENCE Magazine that they had detected evidence of water on the lunar surface.

As well as discoveries and expeditions, there have been many astronomical occurrences in the past decade as well. For example, on April 29th, 2014 an Annular Solar Eclipse occurred, which is when the moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, but cannot fully cover the sun, so a ring is present. Also, three days before Lunar Drift was unveiled, a total lunar eclipse occurred, in which the Earth is directly between the Sun and Moon, casting its shadow on the moon.

By combining Rebecca Cummins’ interest in natural phenomena and Paul DeMarinis joy in questioning the use of material devices in respect to our universe they created a piece of artwork that captivates many viewer’s interest. This seems to be inspired by the amount of space knowledge development during this time. Including the Lunar Eclipse that occurred prior to the inauguration of the Lunar Drift piece. Together these artists brought forth a post modern piece that incorporates photography and sculpture while circulating around science.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

“‘Lunar Drift’ inauguration with Rebecca Cummins & Paul DeMarinis.”

‘Lunar Drift’ inauguration with Rebecca Cummins & Paul

DeMarinis | College of Fine & Performing Arts. N.p., 30 Sept. 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

“Rebecca Cummins.” Rebecca Cummins | School of Art + Art History +

Design | University of Washington. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr.

2017.”Rebecca Cummins.” Rebecca Cummins | School of Art + Art History + Design | University of Washington. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

“ART + SCIENCE: Rebecca Cummins.” LENSCRATCH. N.p., 05 Oct.

2016. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

Pieters, C. M.; Goswami, J. N.; Clark, R. N.; Annadurai, M.; Boardman,

J.; Buratti, B.; Combe, J. -P.; Dyar, M. D.; Green, R.; Head, J. W.; Hibbitts, C.; Hicks, M.; Isaacson, P.; Klima, R.; Kramer, G.; Kumar, S.; Livo, E.; Lundeen, S.; Malaret, E.; McCord, T.; Mustard, J.; Nettles, J.; Petro, N.; Runyon, C.; Staid, M.; Sunshine, J.; Taylor, L. A.; Tompkins, S.; Varanasi, P. (2009). “Character and Spatial Distribution of OH/H2O on the Surface of the Moon Seen by M3 on Chandrayaan-1”. Science. 326 (5952): 568–572. doi:10.1126/science.1178658. PMID 19779151.
“Paul DeMarinis.” Paul DeMarinis :: Foundation for Contemporary Arts. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

GROUP MEMBERS

Kazlyn Roullier

Raquel Pellecer

Gabe Taylor